The Raiders have the two receivers who are headed to the Hall of Fame. On Sunday, the Bengals had the two receivers with the numbers.

The Cincinnati tandem of Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick combined for 16 catches, 240 yards and a touchdown as the Bengals threw a major scare into the Raiders before losing 23-20 at the Coliseum.

Jerry Rice and Tim Brown had five measly catches for 47 yards and no points. Now, one could say that quarterback Rich Gannon was off his feed as he missed several open receivers, including Brown a number of times. But the Bengals' quarterback is Jon Kitna, who came into the game with a mediocre career passing rating of 72.9. No, it was the receivers who made Kitna's day, not the other way around.

"We know how good we can be," said Warrick, the four-year pro from Florida State. "The hard work is finally paying off. . . . We just have to finish what we came to do. And when we do, remember I told you so."

Johnson, in his third year out of Oregon State, is his own toughest critic. Although he had eight receptions, same as Warrick, he was disappointed.

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Oakland Raiders Mo Collins conforts quarterback Rich Gannon at the end of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, Sunday ,Sept. 14, 2003.The Raiders defeated the Bengals even with Gannons poor performance.
LACY ATKINS / The Chronicle less

raiders188_la.jpg
Oakland Raiders Mo Collins conforts quarterback Rich Gannon at the end of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, Sunday ,Sept. 14, 2003.The ... more

Photo: LACY ATKINS

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raiders188_la.jpg
Oakland Raiders Mo Collins conforts quarterback Rich Gannon at the end of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, Sunday ,Sept. 14, 2003.The Raiders defeated the Bengals even with Gannons poor performance.
LACY ATKINS / The Chronicle less

raiders188_la.jpg
Oakland Raiders Mo Collins conforts quarterback Rich Gannon at the end of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, Sunday ,Sept. 14, 2003.The ... more

He was as short on specifics as your average recall gubernatorial candidate. "I don't know," he said when asked where he could have improved. "I just feel I could have done better."

The Raiders' secondary, notably cornerback Phillip Buchanon, would hate to see an upgraded Johnson. The Bengals' receiver was most impressive on a fourth-quarter catch that he made while leaning over the east sideline, then controlled as he dragged both feet in bounds. The Raiders made an unsuccessful replay challenge.

"That was the same pattern he (Buchanon) intercepted," said Johnson of the 83-yard return that gave the Raiders a 20-13 lead with 3:46 left. "This time we did a pump fake, he bit on it and we went over the top."

It wasn't as easy as Johnson is making it sound.

"Did you see that play?" said Rice, who knows a thing or two about such plays. "I don't know how he caught it and kept his feet in."

The game was not the Bengals' only loss Sunday. Running back Corey Dillon,

whose second-half playing time was limited by a hyperextended knee, no longer owns the highest rushing game in NFL history. The 278 yards he gained against Denver three years ago was surpassed by the Ravens' Jamal Lewis, who had 295 Sunday against Cleveland.

"I don't care about the record," Dillon said. "What's a record? It's made to be broken."